Bishop of Margarita requests sober festival in mourning for earthquake victims

In a solemn gesture of solidarity, the Bishop of Margarita has called for a subdued and austere celebration of the upcoming Virgen del Valle festival. Monseñor Fernando Castro Aguayo has asked the faithful to forgo the usual festivities, vibrant colors, and expenses associated with the patron saint's celebration this year. The directive is a direct response to the profound grief and national mourning following the devastating earthquakes that recently struck central Venezuela.

"This year the festivals of the Valley will not have the expansion, the color, the expense that they ordinarily have and that the faithful offer to the Virgin with great pleasure, why? Because we are in mourning, we are in grief, we are with great pain in our hearts," the prelate stated, announcing the measure to the parishioners of Margarita. The decision reflects the national mourning decreed after the seismic events that impacted La Guaira, Caracas, and surrounding states, leaving thousands of victims and causing severe structural damage.

Bishop Castro Aguayo further encouraged the faithful to demonstrate their solidarity by redirecting their material contributions away from the festival and towards relief efforts. He highlighted the existence of collection centers on Margarita Island and in civil parishes, urging that these funds be used to support those affected by the earthquakes. The diocese is actively participating in the collection of essential supplies, a drive replicated across parishes throughout the island and other ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the country. This call to prioritize material aid for victims over customary festive spending underscores the gravity of the situation and the church's commitment to humanitarian assistance.